GB2305348A - Animal litter tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable animal litter tray 1 comprises three zones extending transversely thereof, namely a pair of end zones 2a, 2b incorporating corner regions of the tray and an intermediate collapsible zone 3 wherein the longitudinal walls 6 of the container are adapted for folding inwardly during closure thereby forming a closed container with folded-in longitudinal wall portions positioned therewithin. The tray is vacuum formed with ribs eg 16 and has complementary locking means 8/9.

Description

ANIMAL LITTER TRAY This invention relates to an animal litter tray for use by domestic pets, in particular but not exclusively cats.

The need for lavatory facilities within the home is a particular problem when pets are kept indoors.

They may have to be confined to the home either through youth (the toilet training period) or illness.

Otherwise, the pet's owner may not wish the pet to be let out or may be unable to let the pet out, perhaps because the home is a house without an animal-flap or an apartment above ground floor level. If dogs are regularly taken for walks, difficulties associated with the need for dogs to relieve themselves may be minimal, however socially and environmentally undesirable the solution adopted may be. This solution is not generally available where cats are concerned and thus, particularly with cats, the solution to the need for provision of indoors toilet facilities lies normally in the provision of a litter tray within the home.

Conventional litter trays are simply rectangular containers filled with cat litter which, after a certain amount of usage, has to be disposed of. Where the home occupant has ready access to garden, this may be achieved by tipping the contents of the cat litter tray onto the earth and burying it. This option is not generally available to flat dwellers and the litter has to be transferred to plastic bags for disposal with domestic refuse.

W093/21757 discloses a tray to contain litter for use by an animal, the tray being adapted or arranged to retain its shape in use and being foldable to a sealed condition. Such tray is intended to be disposed of with its contents after folding to the sealed condition with soiled litter trapped therein. This imposes a requirement of considerable care in folding to ensure that soiled cat litter does not escape from the corners of the triangular container being formed on folding the container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable way of disposing of used animal litter held within a disposable litter tray.

According to the present invention, there is provided a tray of rectilinear shape having selfsupporting walls and a depth sufficient to hold a body of animal litter and accommodate an animal and disturbance of the litter as the tray is used by the animal, the tray comprising three zones extending transversely thereof, which zones are constituted by a pair of end zones incorporating corner regions of the tray and intermediate these zones a collapsing zone wherein the longitudinal walls of the container are adapted for folding inwardly to cause relative motion to take place between the end zones to achieve intimate contact between top edge regions of the end zones in forming a closed container with folded-in longitudinal wall portions positioned therewithin.

The tray may be formed by a vacuum moulding process from a plastics material. The walls of the tray may be of varying rigidity. This may be achieved by shaping walls out of planar particularly through formation of strengthening ribs during such vacuum moulding process.

Particularly when the intermediate zone is formed of relatively thin plastics material, shape may be given to the intermediate region by the provision of moulded-in features extending between longitudinal walls and bottom of the tray so as not to interfere with the folding in of the aforementioned portions of the longitudinal walls of the tray. The intermediate zone will generally be delineated from the end zones by a channel extending continuously thereacross, running down the longitudinal walls and across the base.

The tray will generally have an outwardly directed peripheral flange. Closure of the container occurs when the flanges of the end zones are brought together and holding of the tray in the closed condition may readily be achieved by having projections formed on the flange of one end zone enter corresponding apertures in the opposed flange of the opposite end zone. To assist in the folding of the litter tray into its closed condition, cut outs will generally be provided directly adjacent the positions where such delineating channels end.

Although not wishiny to be limited to any specific mode of collapse in the centre of the tray, in a preferred embodiment such collapse is achieved by provision of channels extending from the bottom corners of the longitudinal wall portions defining the collapsing zone to a location midway along the top edge of the respective such portions at which there may again be a cut out in the aforementioned peripheral flange. The said portions are thus laterally defined by a pair of right triangular panels separated by an isosceles triangular panel.On bringing one end zone towards the other, the central isosceles triangular panel of the longitudinal wall portion of each collapsing zone is forced inwardly as the flanking right angular triangular regions come together, by which stage one end region will lie over the other end region and closure of the container is achieved simply by forcing the aforementioned projections in the end flange of one end zone into the apertures in the end flange of the opposed end zone.

A closed container is thus achieved rapidly with minimised risk of spillage of spent litter and is ready for disposal with ordinary domestic waste.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same can be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of an animal litter tray embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a like view showing the tray of Figure undergoing collapse; Figure 3 is a side view of the tray indicating its shape before and after collapse/closing; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the collapsed closed litter tray.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a litter tray 1 has end zones 2a and 2b separated from an intermediate or collapsing zone 3 by grooves or channels 4 running across the tray. The tray has end walls Sa and 5b and longitudinal walls 6 and is formed in a vacuum moulding process from plastics material.

The litter tray 1 may be self-supporting with enhanced dimensional stability resulting from the internal support afforded by litter utilised therein, the tray having sufficient depth to provide a depth of litter acceptable to an animal. Additionally or alternatively, the tray may be utilised within an outer supporting box (not shown) from which the tray is readily removable for eventual disposal.

Extending around the periphery of the tray is a flange or ledge 7 which will be utilised for supporting the tray in such a supporting box and in which projections 8 are provided at one end zone 2b and in which matching openings 9 are provided at the other end 2a. Cut-outs 10 are formed in ledge 7 where it is intersected by grooves 4. Each longitudinal wall 6 has a central zone between channels 4 which is divided by a pair of inclined grooves or channels 11 which meet at a cut-out 12 formed in the ledge 7 and define a pair of right triangles 13 separated by an isosceles triangle 14.

Additional features of the tray are end recesses 15 for assisting in holding of the tray and internal ribs 16 ascending from walls 6 across the bottom of the tray. Fulfilling a similar stiffening function but only in a restricted part of the intermediate zone 3 between channels 11, extending, in particular, only a short way over the bottom of the tray, are further ribs 17. Arrows 18 indicate the direction in which the end zones 2a and 2b are to be rotated to achieve closing of the tray.

Referring to Figure 2, the broken arrows 19 indicate the directions in which force is to be first applied in achieving collapse of the tray. As a result of the application of force, the central, isosceles triangular sections of each intermediate zone side wall are pushed inwardly bringing with them the flanking, right triangular panels 13. As a result of this action, rotation of end walls 5a and 5b towards one another takes place as indicated by arrow 19 in respect of end wall 5a. Completion of rotation of the end walls 5a and 5b with respect to one another results in the portions of ledge 7 associated with end zones 2a and 2b entering into intimate contact and locking together as a result of entry of projections 8 into openings 9.The initial and final conditions of the tray will be appreciated when reference is made to Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the completed closure of the tray which can be readily handled at the central position of the flange 7 below which lie the recesses 15.

If one assumes that, in use, the tray will be half filled with animal litter, then it will be appreciated from Figure 2 how careful handling of the tray as it is collapsed as shown in Figure 2 will result in avoidance of loss of litter material from the tray. Thus, two end zones 2a and 2b are brought together as collapse of zone 3 takes place, this zone 3 acting as a hinge and being kept at the lowermost position of the tray as opposed portions of lateral flange 7 are brought together to close the tray. Not only will there be substantial avoidance of spillage, but a closed container is obtained, on bringing projections 8 into engagement with openings 9, which is easily handled and ready for disposal. If desired further projections and openings can be provided at intervals along opposed lateral of flange 7, within the end zones of the tray.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A tray of rectilinear shape having selfsupporting walls and a depth sufficient to hold a body of animal litter and accommodate an animal and disturbance of the litter as the tray is used by the animal, the tray comprising three zones extending transversely thereof, which zones are constituted by a pair of end zones incorporating corner regions of the tray and intermediate these zones a collapsing zone wherein the longitudinal walls of the container are adapted for folding inwardly to cause relative motion to take place between the end zones to achieve intimate contact between top edge regions of the end zones in forming a closed container with folded-in longitudinal wall portions positioned therewithin.

2. A tray as claimed in claim 1, which is formed of vacuum moulded plastics material.

3. A tray as claimed in claim 1 or 2, whose walls are shaped out of planarity with strengthening ribs.

4. A tray as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate zone is delineated from the end zones by channels extending continuously across the tray, running down the longitudinal walls and across the base.

5. A tray as claimed in any preceding claim, having an outwardly directed peripheral flange with a closure projection being formed on the flange of one end zone and a matching aperture to receive the projection being provided in the opposing flange of the opposite end zone.

6. A tray as claimed in claims 4 and 5, wherein cut-outs are provided in the flange directly adjacent the positions where said delineating channels end.

7. A tray as claimed in any preceding claim formed in each longitudinal wall within the collapsing zone with a pair of right triangular panels separated by an isosceles triangular panel whose base is aligned with a bottom edge of the tray, whereby, on bringing one end zone towards the other, the central isosceles triangular panel of the longitudinal wall portion of each collapsing zone is forced inwardly as the flanking right triangular regions come together.

8. An animal litter tray, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.